Other conditions Board decisions

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary due to the need for VCAA compliance and further investigation into the veteran's service in Thailand. The appeal will be remanded for these purposes.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for recognition as the veteran's surviving spouse, finding that she was divorced from him at the time of his death and did not qualify under VA regulations.

The Board determined that the appellant's right inguinal hernia was not incurred or aggravated during his active military service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's ventral incisional hernia is not a result of negligence or other fault on the part of VA, but was due to his abdominal surgery. The Board found in favor of the veteran and granted compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.

The Board has granted an increased rating to 30 percent for the veteran's service-connected left hand disability, which is currently rated as 20 percent disabling. The new evaluation reflects severe impairment of Muscle Group VII.

The veteran's urticaria is found to be secondary to his service-connected atrial septal defect with tachycardia. His status post operative repair of a secundum atrial septal defect with tachycardia has been granted an increased rating to 30 percent effective September 1, 2003.

The appeal was denied as the appellant did not submit a well-grounded claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for service-connected hypertensive vascular disease with nephritis and gouty arthritis are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including examinations and compliance with VCAA requirements.

The veteran is seeking service connection for pleural disease due to asbestos exposure. The Board has determined that additional development is necessary before the claim can be adjudicated.

The veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for service-connected pityriasis lichenoides chronica is being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the veteran's sickle cell anemia and hemoglobin SC disorder existed prior to her birth, and were not aggravated by service. As a result, she is denied service connection for these conditions.

The Board found that the veteran's cause of death was due to disseminated intravascular coagulopathy and metastatic liver cancer, which were not service-connected or related to his Vietnam-era exposure to Agent Orange. The claim for service connection for the cause of death is denied.

The veteran's active duty service did not include any wartime period, and therefore he does not meet the eligibility requirements for nonservice-connected pension benefits.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further examination and development of evidence related to his claim for service connection for inguinal adenopathy with incision and drainage of nodes.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary in this case due to unclear dates and locations of the veteran's active service. The appeal will be remanded for further action.

The veteran's claim for service connection for left ear disability is being remanded due to conflicting medical opinions and the need for further examination.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals found that the veteran's chest pain was not incurred or aggravated during service and denied her claim for service connection.

The Board denied reopening the claim for service connection for fungal infection of the ears due to lack of new and material evidence.,The Board also denied a compensable evaluation for residuals of dengue fever, as there is no current disability related to the veteran's inservice viral infection.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for educational assistance benefits under Chapter 30, finding that she did not meet the one-year retroactive requirement due to her late submission of paperwork.

The appellant's income exceeded the maximum annual pension rate for death pension benefits in 2002 and 2003, resulting in denial of her claim.